YorkU.forest.oct05-2016

The study was conducted on October 5, 2016 in a woodlot west of York University (Keele Campus), Toronto, ON by Pham Ha Phuong Do, Victor Suay Espi, Achal Amin and XinLu (Andrew) Fan. The temperature was 19 degrees Celsius, clear sky with cool breeze. However, due to canopy, in many parts in the forest area researched there's very little sunlight.<div><br></div><div>For data set #1 (Herbaceous plants) - conducted by Andrew Fan, a quadrat is placed randomly every 2 meters (repeat 25 times in total) along the transect. Native and exotic plants are identified and counted. The total number of observed flower heads within quadrat is also recorded.<br><div><br></div><div>For data set #2 (Woody plants) - conducted by Pham Ha Phuong Do, every 2 meters along the transect (repeat 25 times in total), any woody plant higher than 1.5 meters and within 0.5 meters on either side of the transect will be counted. At these points, canopy coverage is also estimated by dividing visual area into quadrats then sum the area covered. The same method is used to estimate vegetative ground cover as well as record the total number of flower.</div><div><br></div><div>For data set #3 (Vertebrates & Invertebrates) - conducted by Achal Amin, data was collected for vertebrates by observing the population of wild Humans and other birds in 5 meters radius. Also, the 5 meters radius was monitored for 15 mins in sunny weather. The invertebrates data was collected by observing the amount of invertebrates present in 5 meters radius of the forest for 15 mins.</div><div><br></div><div>For data set #4 (Invertebrates) - conducted by Victor Suay Espi, insects captured via 6 pan traps placed 3 meters apart from each other alongside a transect while alternating colours (blue, white and yellow) and 10 sweep nets next to the 50 meters transect. Each sweep transect is one replicate, and the number of invertebrates is recorded after each sweep. The number of invertebrates found in the traps is recorded at the end of the session.</div><div><br></div><div>Key to variables:</div><div>- abundance.native.plants: total number of individual plants recorded inside quadrat in data set #1 that are native to Ontario.</div><div>- abundance.exotic.plants: total number of individual plants recorded inside quadrat in data set #1 that come from places other than Ontario.</div><div>- total.number.flowers (quadrat): total number of flowers inside quadrat recorded in data set #1.</div><div>- abundance.woody.plants: total number of individual woody plants higher than 1.5 meters within 0.5 meters on either side of transect recorded in data set #2.</div><div>- canopy.cover: percentage of sky view (looking up) covered by canopy recorded in data set #2. </div><div>- ground.cover: percentage of ground covered by vegetation recorded in data set #2.</div><div>- total.flower.numbers (transect): total number of flower heads within 0.5 meters on either side of transect recorded in data set #2.</div><div>- abundance.vertebrates: total number of individual vertebrates observed within a 50 meters radius from location recorded in data set #3.</div><div>- vertebrate.species: the number of different vertebrate species recorded in data set #3.</div><div>- abundance.human: total number of people that do not belong to our lab recorded in data set #3.</div><div>- abundance.invertebrates.pantraps: total number of individual invertebrates caught by pan traps recorded in data set #4.</div><div>- abundance.invertebrates.sweeps: total number of individual invertebrates caught by sweep net recorded in data set #4.</div><div>- abundance.invertebrates.observed: total number of individual invertebrates caught within a 5 meter radius during 15 minutes interval recorded in data set #3/4.</div><div><br></div><div>Hypothesis:</div></div><div>Data set #1: There're more native plants than exotic plants in the forest because the conditions there is not very suitable for the growth and reproduction of exotic plants.</div><div><br></div><div>Data set #2: Higher canopy will lower the chance to find woody plants due to resources competition.</div><div><br></div><div>Data set #3: Population of vertebrates would be significantly lower than the population of invertebrates because forest is inhabited mostly by invertebrates.</div><div><br></div><div>Data set #4: Pan traps will capture a higher number of invertebrates than the sweep net because netting captures mainly bigger individual invertebrates while pan traps can catch many small invertebrates. </div><div><br></div><div>Predictions</div><div>Data set #1: The number of native plants is significantly higher than the number of exotic plants.</div><div><br></div><div>Data set #2: The number of woody plants in points with high canopy will generally be lowest.</div><div><br></div><div>Data set #3: More invertebrates will be observed in the area than vertebrates.</div><div><br></div><div>Data set #4: Sweep net will catch fewer invertebrates, while pan traps will catch many invertebrates.